Revelation, 27–28 December 1832 [D&C 88:1–126]

Presiding officers of the church; also, leading elders of the church. A December 1832 revelation directed the first elders, or “first labourers,” to preach the gospel and instructed them to create a school to prepare for their ministry. A June 1834 revelation...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

This heading may have appeared
in the original manuscript.
John
Whitmer’s copy of the revelation
in Revelation Book 1 contains a similar introduction: “A Revelation given to
the first Elders of this church of Christ organized in
these last days Given December 27, 1832.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832,
in Revelation Book 1,
p. 158
[D&C 88:1–126].)

Revelation
Book 1 / “A Book of Commandments and Revelations of
the Lord Given to Joseph the Seer and Others by the Inspiration of God and Gift
and Power of the Holy Ghost Which Beareth Re[c]ord of the Father and Son and
Holy Ghost Which Is One God Infinite and Eternal World without End Amen,”
1831–1835. CHL.

Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, who have assembled
yourselves together, to receive his will concerning you, behold this is
pleasing unto
[p. 33]

Presiding officers of the church; also, leading elders of the church. A December 1832 revelation directed the first elders, or “first labourers,” to preach the gospel and instructed them to create a school to prepare for their ministry. A June 1834 revelation...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

This heading may have appeared
in the original manuscript.
John
Whitmer’s copy of the revelation
in Revelation Book 1 contains a similar introduction: “A Revelation given to
the first Elders of this church of Christ organized in
these last days Given December 27, 1832.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832,
in Revelation Book 1,
p. 158
[D&C 88:1–126].)

Revelation
Book 1 / “A Book of Commandments and Revelations of
the Lord Given to Joseph the Seer and Others by the Inspiration of God and Gift
and Power of the Holy Ghost Which Beareth Re[c]ord of the Father and Son and
Holy Ghost Which Is One God Infinite and Eternal World without End Amen,”
1831–1835. CHL.

Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, who have assembled
yourselves together, to receive his will concerning you, behold this is
pleasing unto
[p. 33]

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

” of the
church. The text of the revelation describes its audience as those who had
congregated at the conference in Kirtland “to receive his
[God’s] will concerning you.” Although
in later years the term “first Elders” generally referred to the leading elders
of the church, here it appears to have a less hierarchical meaning, equating
the elders to whom the revelation was addressed with “the first
Elders labourers, in this last kingdom” who
were referenced in a parable presented in this revelation.2

JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856.
Vols. A-1–F-1 (original),
A-2–E-2 (fair
copy).
CHL. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death
of Joseph Smith.

JS called this revelation “the Olieve leaf which
we have plucked from the tree of Paradise” and “the Lords message of peace to
us.” Perhaps JS described the revelation in this way because it offset the
stark apocalyptic imagery of the 25 December
revelation or perhaps because he saw its messages regarding the conduct of
church members and the need for unity as a way to heal ongoing difficulties
with Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

Like the
25 December prophecy of war, the
27–28 December
revelation discusses eschatological events, but interspersed throughout the
revelation are explanations of the requirements to enter the
celestial

Highest kingdom of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the sun. According to a vision dated 16 February 1832, inheritors of the celestial kingdom “are they who received the testimony of Jesus, & believed on his name, & were baptized,” “receive...

One of three kingdoms, or degrees, of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the moon. According to JS and Sidney Rigdon’s account of a 16 February 1832 vision, those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom are those who “received not the testimony...

The lowest of three kingdoms, or degrees, of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the stars. According to JS and Sidney Rigdon’s account of a 16 February 1832 vision, those “who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus...

), the first part
of this revelation connects Christ with light and the creative process. This
explanation expanded on ideas expressed in earlier revelations. Revelations in
1829, for example, generally used the concept of
light to represent Jesus Christ.7

The
27–28 December
revelation brings such ideas together by explaining that Christ’s light, which
the revelation defines as truth and knowledge, is in all things, is the power
by which they were created, and is the law governing them. Such concepts were
not entirely novel; in the 1700s, Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, for
example, argued that “the light which proceeds from the Lord as a sun is Divine
Truth, from which the angels derive all their wisdom and intelligence,” but
this revelation goes further in its connection of light to the creative and
governing processes.9

While it explored
theological themes, the revelation also issued concrete directives, instructing
the elders to sanctify themselves at a “solemn assembly,” to construct a house
of God, and to be taught there in both spiritual and temporal matters before
embarking on their missions to the
Gentiles

Those who were not members of the House of Israel. More specifically, members of the church identified gentiles as those whose lineage was not of the Jews or Lamanites (understood to be the American Indians in JS’s day). Certain prophecies indicated that ...

“for the last time.” These instructions came in response to specific prayers
that God show “his will . . . concerning the upbuilding of
Zion

JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of promise” for gathering of Saints and place for “city of Zion,” with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland, Ohio, became known...

,” which
suggests that the revelation would apply only to church members in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

Just two
weeks after
JS dictated this revelation, he informed church
leaders in Missouri that the revelation provided a
commandment

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

A term occasionally used to refer to a Protestant seminary; specifically used by JS to refer to a school to prepare elders of the church for their ministry. A December 1832 revelation directed JS and the elders of the church in Kirtland, Ohio, to establish...

Over the next
several months, church leaders in
Kirtland took steps to construct a schoolhouse for
“the Elders who should come in to receive ther education for the ministry” and
broke ground for the building they called the
House
of the Lord

JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...

, for example, wrote in his
journal that the revelation instructed “the first labourers in this last
vinyard” to “call a sollem assembly” where they could “sanctify themselves
& wash their hands & feet for a testimony” against an unbelieving
generation. He also highlighted the revelation’s requirement to “appoint a
teacher among” the elders so that they could obtain “knowledge of countries
& languages.”14

printed part of the
revelation in the February 1833 issue of
The Evening and the Morning Star, he chose portions explaining
the solemn
assembly

A special church meeting or conference convened to conduct church business, administer sacred ordinances, and receive spiritual power and instruction. In November 1831, the Saints were directed by revelation to gather as a body in solemn assemblies. A December...

JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...

wrote this
revelation as
JS dictated it. The original manuscript is not
extant; Williams copied the revelation into Revelation Book 2, probably between
late January and
late February 1833.
Soon after dictating the revelation, JS transmitted it to the Saints in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

, explaining that its contents showed
“that the Lord approves of us & has accepted us, & established his name
in
kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

This revelation was
first published in its entirety on a broadside in
late 1833 or
early 1834.18

Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, who
have assembled yourselves together, [Kirtland, OH: ca. Jan. 1834], copy
at CHL
[D&C 88–89]. A portion of the
revelation was published earlier, in
The Evening and the Morning Star. (“Revelation,” The Evening and the Morning
Star, Feb. 1833, [5].)

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...